MELAKA: A 33-year-old property developer, who recently won two entrepreneurship awards, has donated his winnings to a cancer cause.
Suria Harmoni Resources Sdn Bhd director Muhammad Fikri Mohd Ali said he decided to celebrate his winnings by sharing his good fortune.
"I consider this a good fortune and decided to donate towards charity to celebrate my winnings.
"This is when I called up the National Cancer Society of Malaysia's (NCSM) Melaka's Chapter after being told they were organising the annual Relay for Life (RFL) event at the ground of Manipal College University here," he said.
Muhammad Fikri said he didn't expect NCSM to invite him to flag off the RFL run and be a “dignitary” at the event.
"I donated RM5,000 at the event and will do more for NCSM in the future," he added.
He said that the most memorable award presentation was the 11th edition Seba Awards 2024 in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 14.
“I felt honoured to be amongst prominent figures like Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai who was conferred the Media Personality of the Year Award on that day.
"It's not a simple achievement when a prominent media figure that shaped the Malaysian spirit in me by reading his articles since young, was also named recipient of the prestigious award," he said in an interview here on Sunday (Dec 1).
Muhammad Fikri said he won the second award at the 100 Most Influential Young Entrepreneurs of 2024 (100 MIYE) award presentation, also held in Kuala Lumpur, last month.
He is also no stranger to charity work and was also instrumental in raising funds for Palestine war victims and providing aid to the needy during the annual Melaka Grand Ramadan Bazaar (Melgrab) on Jalan Hang Tuah here.
In March, the young entrepreneur also sponsored a fund for sports excellence at SJK(C) Pay Teck here.
Muhammad Fikri said RFL can be a platform for all races to get together and do good for the community, especially for cancer survivors.
The annual RFL is a cancer fundraising and awareness programme backed by the noble aim of celebrating cancer survivorship.
The community-based programme has previously attracted thousands of people comprising cancer survivors, youths and leaders representing local communities and non-governmental bodies.
NSCM's president Datuk Dr S.Saunthari Somasundaram and managing director Assoc Prof. Dr M. Murallitharan were also present during the event.
Separately, Dr Murallitharan told the reporters that the RFL event will be extended to Johor and Penang next year.
He said RFL is currently organised in Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Melaka to create cancer awareness.
"We also plan to organise RFL in the East Coast states as well as Sabah and Sarawak soon," he added.
The Melaka RFL also received financial support from clinical oncologist Dr Daniel Wong, Birkin Hotel and Poon Goor Soe Manufacture from Batu Berendam, here.
